A development of 66 new homes on the edge of Attleborough looks set to win approval despite a petition of objection from nearby residents.

Members of Breckland Council's development control committee will decide on Wednesday whether the plans submitted by Sheringham-based Norfolk Homes Ltd should go ahead on land north of Honeysuckle Way.

Planning officers have recommended that the application be approved subject to conditions and the signing of a financial agreement.

Proposals for the two hectare agricultural site involve the construction of 66 one to four-bedroom dwellings, including 26 affordable homes, as well as a new access road and two areas of public open space.

The plans have attracted 10 letters of objection and a petition signed by 73 opposing residents raising concerns about the development's effect on the area's local character, increased traffic, loss of residential amenity and harm to wildlife.

Attleborough Town Council has also raised concerns about its impact on the town's infrastructure and has requested the developer makes a contribution towards cemetery provision.

Norfolk County Council's highway authority has asked for amendments to the layout and design of the access road and has worries about parking proposals.

However in a report going before the development control committee, planning officers have said the proposals offered a 'generally well conceived' and 'attractive' scheme bordered by existing residential areas minimising its 'visual intrusion' on the rural setting.

'Given the scale of the development proposed and the site's location adjacent to existing housing, some impact on the amenities of surrounding residential properties is considered to be inevitable due to visual effects and additional activity levels. However it is considered that the scheme has generally been designed as to avoid significant impact on neighbours,' it said.

The report added that the existing road network was of a 'suitable standard' to cope with the additional traffic and that the site had 'limited ecological interest' due to its previous agricultural use.